Sew Mindful Podcast

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Sew Mindful podcast and thank you so much for joining me. This week I wanted to focus on one of my favourite fabrics to work with and that is Jersey . I wanted to do a bit of research and share with you some background to the different types of fibres that Jersey fabrics can be made from and the very different properties that each one has. I have been teach...

Pantone started as a graphics standards system for designers to provide a way to standardise how we define and refer to colours. It has become so influential that it is now a primary influencer in the colour trends followed by the fashion industry. In 2000 the Pantone Color Institute set up the Pantone Color of the Year . It has evolved into a significant trendsetting tool and now takes 9 months o...

This week is the 2nd part of my chat with the wonderful Claire Hutchinson about her tips on buying fabric particularly when in shops. If you haven't already listened to episode 27 for part 1 of our chat then I'd highly recommend doing so as Claire shares some great tips on how to make sure you get the best preparation for any fabric shopping trip. What you will hear in this episode: In t...

In this week's episode Claire Hutchinson returns to continue our chat about her fabric stash. Claire first joined me in Episode 24 to share her process for picking and making garments and as we spoke it was clear that Claire loves to buy fabric. I wanted to find out how to become more confident in buying fabric when in shops and so in this episode Claire shares the details of her process of p...

One of the most often asked questions when people are learning to make their own clothes is which is the best sewing machine to buy. Choosing a sewing machine can seem really daunting as there are so many to choose from so in this episode I talk about the key things I look for when choosing a sewing machine. I explain how the machines I have bought in the past have evolved in features and price as...

I love sewing but it can be easy to feel defeated if your project doesn't turn out as planned. There can be lots of reasons why sewing failures can happen but because you have often invested time and money into it the frustration can feel magnified when it happens. In this episode I talk about some of my 'failures' and the reason I have used quote marks is because I have found ways...

I love talking to other makers about their makes and the processes they follow to express their creativity so I wanted to share with you some of the wonderful people I have met through sewing. I met Claire Hutchinson on a Pattern Drafting course at The School of Sewing in Ashby, UK. I loved her enthusiasm and passion for all things dressmaking and followed her progress via her projects on Instagra...

January is my favourite month for planning and so I wanted to share the steps that I used to plan my next mini collection that I will be making to kick off this year. Now the phrase ‘mini collection’ sounds a lot more glamorous than it really is but after years of making individual garments that didn’t really go with anything in my wardrobe or that I ended up not being able to wear very often I de...

Happy New Year lovely listeners and welcome to 2021. I wanted to find a topic that would set you up to have a great year and so this week’s guest is the marvellous Mikki Gaskell.   Mikki is a coach who describes herself as your biggest cheerleader and who doesn't need one of those! She believes that everyone is born with a unique and special gift inside them and she works to inspire, motivate...

If you have ever thought about whether you might be able to turn your sewing into a way to bring in more money then this episode is for you. Or if you already sell things that you have made and want to increase your audience and sales online then be sure to give this a listen. My guest for this episode is the fabulous Annabelle Bayhan . Annabelle helps people that run their own businesses connect...

I'm still a novice when it comes to creating colour combinations so I wanted to find someone that could help me learn more about colour and how to incorporate it into my designs and my overall wardrobe. So my guest for this episode is the queen of all things colour and style, Lisa Newport of Lisa Newport Style. She is the founder of the 4 step Drab to Fab System which she developed drawing on...

My guest for this episode is the fabulous Rebecca Weef Smith. For a long time I have realised that what I wear can have an impact on how I'm feeling but I've never really considered the deeper reasons why or thought about how I can use that to my advantage. Rebecca had that sense too but she wanted to know more so decided on this as a topic for her Positive Psychology Master's at th...

A huge thank you for tuning in for episode 18! This week's episode is short and sweet  but for me it has been super powerful - uncovering the hidden/subconscious beliefs that hold us back Over the last few weeks I've been paying real attention to what happens in my mind when I find myself avoiding tasks or activities. I believe that we are all master manifesters but it seems that sometim...

This week's episode is for anyone that has struggled to find inspiration for new ways to wear an old favourite garment or ideas on how to add new garments to your existing wardrobe. So I was delighted to be joined by the fabulous Sylvie Hart to get some advice on how she creates the beautiful outfits in her Instagram stories using inspiration from different sources. -- SPECIAL OFFER FROM SYLV...

Thank you so much for tuning in. This week my guest is the fabulous Jenny Rushmore of Cashmerette .  I have admired Jenny for a long time, as a regular consumer of the excellent information in the  Curvy Sewing Collective and following the Cashmerette Pattern brand as it has grown and flourished. I was delighted to get the chance to ask Jenny about her journey and her mission and she was so genero...

Hey there lovely listeners and welcome to episode 15 where I tackle the sometimes scary world of commercial sewing patterns. I love sewing patterns but I know that I have the kind of mind that likes reading instructions - don’t judge me, that’s just who I am.  I also know that for many people the thought of using a sewing pattern conjures similar feelings to going to the dentist or filling out a t...

Welcome to episode 14 of the Sew Mindful podcast. This episode will air on Halloween so if the thought of having your photo taken sends chills down your spine then this episode is just for you.  I am delighted to welcome back the inimitable Imogen Lamport of Inside Out Style who shares 13 great tips on how to turn your frightful photo experiences into sexy selfies that you’ll be proud to show off....

Thank you so much for tuning in for this episode where my friend Paola De Giovanni and I reminisce on fashion through the twentieth century. As a fashion historian Paola's passion for the past is infectious and we explore the wonderful decade of the 1940s. We explore how society, culture and war impacted what we wore then and continues to influence what we wear and make today. Be sure to chec...

Hello lovely listeners and this week I am flying solo once again to share with you my 9 top tips to buying fabric online. So if the thought of trying to navigate the vast world of online fabrics brings you out in a cold sweat then this episode is for you. I share with you why I love buying fabric online and how I have honed a few simple tips to ensure I get fabrics I love with minimum fuss deliver...

I am a huge fan of this week’s guest - the brilliant Erica Schmitz .  Erica is an obsessed garment sewist who founded MyBodyModel , a website that makes customized fashion drawing templates (also know as croquis) based on your measurements.  It all started because she wanted to draw her sewing ideas, and was frustrated that she couldn’t find any fashion illustration templates that looked like her....

This week’s topic is one that I get asked about a lot and that is how to do your own clothing alterations . When people think about making their own clothes it’s natural to think that it is easiest to start by modifying something you already have rather than making from scratch. But in reality having to take apart and remake a garment can be more challenging that just making it from scratch. So in...

Sounds melodramatic right? Woman saves world by making her own clothes. Surely dressmaking is just a hobby? But what if the impact of learning to make clothes was not only to produce outfits that fit, flatter and look fabulous but could also save the environment and improve your wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you? Wouldn't that be amazing! “I feel like we understand what plastic...

My guest is the fabulous Imogen Lamport of Inside Out Style back by popular demand. If you haven’t listened to Episode 2 where Imogen made her first appearance then be sure to go and listen to that after this episode. If you have listened to that episode then you will know that Imogen is a walking encyclopaedia on all things style.  At the time of recording we are in the transition phase between s...

I am joined once again by Amber Allworth for part 2 of our discussion on change, this time focusing on tips that can help you understand how you are using your time.  If you want to make changes we cover some tips and tools to help you do that including how to do more of what lights you up.  So if you feel out of control or overwhelmed by your to do list, if you feel dissatisfied with how you are...

“ The only constant in life is change ,” Heraclitus But change can be tough and if you struggle with change but want to embrace it then episode 6 – Making Change Intentional -  is just for you.  My guest is Amber Allworth of Allworth It Life Coaching. She specialises in working with people that want to make a change in their lives or have been forced into making a change. Those changes could inclu...